Does your go-to medicine meet the quality standard? Answers will shock you

In a recent report from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), over 50 commonly used medicines, including paracetamol, Pan D, and calcium supplements, have been flagged as ‘Not of Standard Quality’ (NSQ). This alarming revelation raises serious safety concerns about the drugs millions rely on daily.

The August 2024 report listed several top-selling medications across various categories—pain relief, diabetes, hypertension, vitamins, and acid reflux treatments—that failed to meet quality standards. Among the flagged drugs are well-known names like paracetamol tablets (500 mg), the anti-diabetic drug Glimepiride, and high blood pressure medication Telma H (Telmisartan 40 mg). Notably, Shelcal calcium supplements and the antibiotic Metronidazole, produced by Hindustan Antibiotics Limited (HAL), were also deemed substandard.

The CDSCO conducted random sample checks, uncovering that these medications, produced by major pharmaceutical companies such as Alkem Laboratories, Hetero Drugs, and Karnataka Antibiotics & Pharmaceuticals Ltd, did not pass quality tests. Further investigation revealed that some batches of these drugs were likely spurious, as the manufacturers denied producing them.

A Kolkata state-run lab added to the concern by identifying Clavam 625 and Pan D as spurious. Additionally, Cepodem XP 50, a common pediatric medication for bacterial infections, failed the quality test, putting children at risk. Sun Pharma's Ursocol 300 and Pantocid, along with Glenmark’s hypertension drug Telma H, also did not meet quality standards, according to the report.

The implications of these findings are significant, with public health potentially at risk. The CDSCO's efforts to ban over 156 fixed-dose drug combinations in August, deemed hazardous to humans, underscore the ongoing battle against substandard and spurious medicines in India.